A Comparison of Omnidirectional and Rotating Directional Antennas for Intercept

With the completion of an intercept probability computer it has become possible to determine the probability of intercept for a given receiver working against a given transmitter. Considering an AN/WLR-1 intercepting the lower beam of an AN/ CPS-6B radar, it has been found that a high performance omnidirectional antenna would be a better intercept antenna than the AN/SLR-2 direction finding antenna rotated at high speed. While this conclusion applies quantitatively only to this one case, the computed data suggests that development of omnidirectional microwave intercept antennas should be pursued, and that provisions should be made for the installation of these antennas with the AN/WLR-1 system.